Chemical toilet

ABSTRACT

A SELF-CONTAINED CHEMICAL TOILET FR VEHICULAR USE HAVING A TOILET SEAT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO A HOUSING AND SURROUNDINGLY POSITIONED OVER AN OPENING IN THE TOP WALL, AND A COVER ASSEMBLY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO THE HOUSING TO COVER THE SEAT, OPENING AND TOP WALL. A PAIR OF DOOR MEMBERS ARE RESPECTIVELY MOUNTED TO EACH OF A PAIR OF RODS WITHIN THE HOUSING WITH THE DOOR MEMBERS BEING PIVOTAL FROM A CLOSED HORIZONTAL POSITION BETWEEN THE SOLUTION AND THE OPENING TO AN OPENED VERTICAL POSITION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY TOWARD THE CHEMICAL SOLUTION TO BAFFLE SAME DURING VEHICULAR MOVEMENT. A PASSAGEWAY MEMBER IS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSING TOP WALL AND DEPENDS DOWNWARDLY INTO THE INTERIOR THEREOF FOR SEALINGLY ENGAGING THE DOOR MEMBERS WHEN IN THEIR CLOSED POSITION TO PREVENT SPLASH-UP OF THE SOLUTION ONTO THE TOILET SEAT AND TOP WALL. LINKAGE MEANS EXTEND BETWEEN THE COVER ASSEMBLY AND EACH ROD WHICH IS OPERABLE TO PIVOT THE RODS AND ATTACHED DOOR MEMBERS INTO THEIR OPEN POSITION UPON OPENING OF THE COVER ASSEMBLY AND INTO THEIR CLOSED POSITION ON CLOSING OF THE COVER ASSEMBLY. A COUNTER RECORDS THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE COVER ASSEMBLY IS OPENED FOR USE OF THE TOILET.

Sept. 20, 1971 ELU EI'AL 3,605,129

CHEMICAL TOILET Filed April 9, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 47- Mr fg 32 l 3 II8p -i. I M UH 532 ...1 1 14 2 10 INVENTORS Fmnczs L Eliza John H.Tim/Wren By B. frank Ivman Sept. 20, 1971 ELLIS EI'AL 3,605,129

' CHEMICAL TOILET Filed April 9, 1970 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

34 Ifil 22 NVENTORS Francis Ell/.5 John H. 7/70/7720/7 y B. flan/z 10mm?United States'Patent O 3,605,129 CHEMICAL TOILET Francis L. Ellis, JohnH. Thornton, and B. Frank Inman, Jacksonville, Fla., assignors to DuvalChemical Toilets, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla.

Filed Apr. 9, 1970, Ser. No. 26,939 Int. Cl. A471; 11/02; A611 11 U.S.Cl. 4115 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-contained chemicaltoilet for vehicular use having a toilet seat pivotally mounted to ahousing and surroundingly positioned over an opening in the top wall,and a cover assembly pivotally mounted to the housing to cover the seat,opening and top wall. A pair of door members are respectively mounted toeach of a pair of rods within the housing with the door members beingpivotal from a closed horizontal position between the solution and theopening to an opened vertical position extending downwardly toward thechemical solution to baflie same during vehicular movement. A passagewaymember is attached to the housing top wall and depends downwardly intothe interior thereof for sealingly engaging the door members when intheir closed position to prevent splash-up of the solution onto thetoilet seat and top wall. Linkage means extend between the coverassembly and each rod which is operable to pivot the rods and attacheddoor members into their open position upon opening of the cover assemblyand into their closed position on closing of the cover assembly, Acounter records the number of times the cover assembly is opened for useof the toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to an improved toilet system. More particularly, the inventiondisclosed herein pertains to improvements in a chemical toilet or sewagedisposal device particularly adapted for vehicular use, and includesmeans for retaining a chemical solution and waste deposited therein inthe tank portion of the chemical toilet and preventing the same fromsplashing upward toward the toilet seat and top wall thereof,particularly when the vehicle is in motion. These retaining meansadditionally baflie the chemical and waste solution in the tank portionof the toilet when the same is in use, to aid in preventing thesplash-up of the solution onto the user of the toilet. The improvedchemical toilet of this invention permits both of the above describedadvantageous and desirable features to be accomplished by a singleautomatically operative means. The invention, relating to improvementsin waterless toilets of the kind including a chemical or asepticsolution contained within a tank portion of the toilet for the receptionof sewage, excrement and waste therein, has special utility inconnection with railroad cars, buses or other like conveyances orvehicles.

Description of the prior art Sewage disposal systems including a toiletdevice, and more particularly a chemical toilet, especially adapted forrailroad use, vehicular use or of a portable nature have previously beendevised, such prior arrangements and apparatuses being generallydisclosed in United States Patents Nos. 125,370, 756,599, 1,006,812,1,189,714, 1,210,- 186, 1,264,873, 2,011,511 and 2,946,065. Applicantsinvention of an improved chemical toilet particularly adapted forrailroad cars or other vehicular use, disclosed herein, is animprovement over such prior art devices, as shown for example in theabove mentioned patents.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of this invention toprovide an improved chemical or Waterless toilet of the type generallyincluding a chemical or aseptic solution contained within a tank portionof the toilet for the reception of sewage, excrement and other wastetherein and being particularly adapted for vehicular use, such as inrailroad cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved chemicaltoilet particularly adapted for vehicular use in which the splashing andsurging of the chemical solution and waste contained therein within thetank portion of the toilet is prevented from splashing upward toward andonto the toilet seat and top of the toilet during those periods when thetoilet is not in use, and particularly when the vehicle is in motion.

A further object of the subject invention is to provide an improvedchemical toilet particularly adapted for vehicular use in which thesurging and splashing of the chemical solution and Waste containedtherein within the tank portion of the toilet is bafiled to aid in andprevent the movement of the chemical and waste solution within the tankportion thereby substantially eliminating splashup on the user of thetoilet when the same is in use, particularly when the vehicle is inmotion.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide an improvedchemical toilet particularly adapted for vehicular use in which a splashpreventing means is employed and in which the splash preventing meansand the means for mounting the same is of a simplified and ruggedconstruction, and in which the splash-preventing means is readilyoperated in a positive and automatic manner on the opening and closingof a cover assembly provided for the chemical toilet.

In general these objects are attained by providing a self-containedchemical toilet adapted for vehicular use having a housing including aplurality of side walls and a bottom and top wall forming a tanktherewithin for the reception of a chemical solution and waste materialto be deposited therein through an opening in the top wall. A toiletseat is pivotally attached to the housing and surroundingly positionedover the opening in the top wall and a cover assembly is pivotallymounted to the housing and adapted and arranged to cover the seat, theopening and the top wall. The toilet further includes door meanspivotally mounted within the housing and being positioned adjacentlybelow the top wall thereof, with the door means being pivotal from aclosed generally horizontal blocking position between the chemicalsolution and the opening within the top wall to an opened generallyvertical nonblocking position extending downwardly toward the chemicalsolution to baflle the same when the vehicle is in motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which are believedto be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularityin the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to itsorganization and rnethod of operation, together with further objects andadvantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved chemical or portable toiletof this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the improved chemical orportable toilet of this invention;

\FIG. is an enlarged rear elevational view similar to FIG. 4 but withcertain parts thereof in other positions;

FIG. 6 is a rear pictorial view of a second embodiment of the improvedchemical or portable toilet of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a rear pictorial view of a second embodiment of the invention,similar to FIG. 6 but with certain portions thereof being in otherpositions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawings in detail, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the improvedself-contained chemical or portable toilet 10, particularly adapted tovehicular use, is seen to include an outer housing or enclosure 12having a front wall 14, side walls 16 and 18, a rear wall 20, a bottomwall 22 and a top wall 24. Housing or enclosure front wall 14, sidewalls 16 and 18, rear wall 20 and bottom wall 22 are connected andsealed together to form a tank 24 therewithin for the receiving andholding of a chemical or aseptic solution and the reception andcontainment of excrement, sewage and other like wastes which aredeposited within the toilet 10. The top wall 24 of toilet housing orenclosure 12 is provided with an oval shaped opening 26 centrallylocated therein through which excrement, sewage and other like wastesmay be deposited into the holding tank 24 located therebelow.

Toilet further includes a toilet seat 28 hingedly mounted at referencenumeral 30 to the top wall 24 of toilet enclosure or housing 12. Toiletseat 28 includes an opening 32 therein which, upon lowering of toiletseat 28 to rest upon top wall 24 of enclosure 12, is in registry withopening 26 within top wall 24 of enclosure 12. Seat 28 is furtherprovided with a spring mechanism within 7 its hinge portion at 30whereby upon non-use of the seat the same automatically rises to aposition which is at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to top wall 24of toilet housing 12.

Chemical toilet 10 further includes a cover assembly 34 hingedlyattached by means of a piano hinge 36' to the rear portion of top wall24 of toilet enclosure 12 and positioned closely adjacent rear wall ofthe enclosure. Top cover 34- includes a top section 36, depending sidesections 38 and 40, a back section 42, to which one section of hinge 36'is attached, and a front section 44. A

numeral 48 of FIG. 2, resting on and sealing the top wall 24 of toiletenclosure 12, to its fully opened position 50, as depicted in FIGS. 1and 2, with cover 34 at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the topwall 24 of the toilet housing.

The cover assembly 34 further includes a gasket or sealing member 47positioned about and attached to its lower edge to provide a sealbetween cover assembly 34 and top wall 24 of housing 12. If desired topcover 34 may be provided with a latch or lock mechanism (not shown)extending between cover 34 and the top portion of enclosure 12 to securecover 34 in its closed position sealing top wall 24 and seat 28 ofenclosure 12. Upon the release of the latch mechanism and the raising ofcover 34, into its opened position 50 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, seat 28will automatically rise to the position as depicted in FIG. 1,thereafter the same will have to be depressed and lowered to be sat uponor used.

Positioned within tank portion 24 of toilet enclosure or housing 12 is arectangular member 52 having side walls 54 and 56 which are generallyparallel to respective side walls 16 and 18 in enclosure 12 and endwalls 58 and 60 which are generally parallel to respective front andback walls \12 and 14 of enclosure 12. Rectangular member 52 surroundsopening 26 within enclosure top wall 24, is attached to top wall 24 anddepends downwardly there- 4 from into tank 24 of enclosure 12 to thepoint as indicated by reference numeral 62, as depicted in FIG. 2.

Within enclosure 12 and positioned therein outwardly of side wall 54 ofrectangular member 52 and at a height approximately equal to the loweredge 62 of rectangular member 52, is a pivotally mounted rod 64. Rod 64is journalled within bushing 66 attached to front wall 14 of enclosure12 and extends through an opening at 68 within an inner frame member 70such as to make the same freely pivotable about its longitudinal axis. Asecond, similar rod 72 is positioned within enclosure 12 and pivotallymounted therein outwardly of side wall 56 of rectangular member 52 andat a height just slightly below the lower edge 62 of rectangular member52. Rod 72 is journalled within bushing 74 attached to the front wall 14of enclosure 12 and extends through an opening at 76 within inner framemember 70 such that rod 72 is freely pivotable about its longitudinalaxis. Attached to rod 64, adjacently along one of its longitudinaledges, is a door or inner cover 78, which is pivotable with rod 64 froma generally vertical, depending, open position (see FIGS. 2 and 4) to agenerally horizontal, closed position (see FIGS. 3 and 5) in which door78 engages and seals against lower edge 62 of rectangular member 52.Door 78, when in its closed generally horizontal position, extendingapproximately one-half the distance across rectangular member 52.Mounted to rod 72, adjacently along one of its longitudinal edges is asecond door or inner cover 80, which is pivotable with rod 72 from anopen position in which it depends generally vertically downward from rod72 to a closed position in which it extends generally horizontally andin which position it engages and seals against lower edge 62 ofrectangular member 52. In its closed, generally horizontal position,door 80 extends approximately one-half the distance across rectangularmember 52. The small gap 82 existing between doors 78 and 80 when thesame are in their closed generally horizontal positions is filled andsealed by an offset flange 84 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) which is connected toand carried by the inner edge of door 80.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the improvedself-contained chemical toilet of this invention includes an operatingmechanism 86 extending between pivotable rods 64 and 72 and top coverassembly 34, such that upon opening and raising of cover assembly 34 toits opened position 50 as depicted in FIG. 2, doors or inner covers 78and 80 are pivoted about respective rods 64 and 72 to their opengenerally vertical positions depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, and upon closingof cover assembly 34 to its closed position 48 of FIG. 2, doors 78 and80 are pivoted with respective rods 64 and 72 into their closedgenerally horizontal positions engaging and sealing lower edge 62 ofrectangular member 52, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Operating mechanism 86 includes an extension rod 88 rigidly connected tothe mid-portion of back section 42 of cover assembly 34 which extendsrearwardly outward therefrom. Extension rod 88 is pivotally connected bymeans of pin 92 to a clevis portion adjacent the upper end of anelongated push rod 94. The lower end of push rod 94 is pivotallyconnected by means of pin 96 to an actuating lever 98, with pin 96extending through a slotted opening 100 in one end portion of actuatinglever 98. The other end portion of actuating lever 98 is rigidlyconnected to the outer end portion of an actuating rod 102. The innerend portion of actuating rod 102 is journalled within a bushing 104attached to inner frame member 70 such that rod 102 is freely pivotabletherein and about its longitudinal axis. Actuating rod 102 is furthersupported for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis by an L-shaped support member 106 having its shorter generally horizontal legattached to outer protective frame member 108, with rod 102 passingthrough an opening at 110 within the upper portion of generally uprightelongated leg of L-shaped supporting member or bracket 106, with rod 102being freely pivotable therein. Actuating rod 102 further passes throughan opening at 112 within the rear wall 20 of enclosure 12 and is free topivot therein.

An intermediate actuating lever 114 is rigidly connected at itsmid-portion to actuating rod 102 at a point thereon between rear wall 20of enclosure 12 and inner frame member 70 to pivot with actuating rod102 upon pivotal movement thereof. Pivotally connected to one endportion of intermediate actuating lever 114 by means of pin 116 is aleft hand actuating lever 118, and pivotally connected to the oppositeend portion of intermediate actuating lever .114 by means of pin 120 isa right hand actuating lever 122. The opposite end portion of left handactuating lever 118 is pivotally connected to the upper portion of aleft hand actuating plate 124 by a pin 126 positioned in and extendingthrough a slotted opening 128 within the upper portion of this left handactuating plate 124. In similar fashion the opposite or other endportion of right hand actuating lever 122 is pivotally connected to theupper end portion of a right hand actuating plate 130 by a pin 132positioned within and extending through a slotted opening 134 within theupper end portion of this right hand actuating plate 130. The oppositeor lower end portion of left hand actuating plate 124 is fixedlyconnected to an end portion of pivotal rod 72 to which is afiixed door80 as hereinabove explained. The opposite or low end portion of righthand actuating plate 130 is fixedly attached to an end portion ofpivotal rod 64 on which is mounted door 78 as hereinabove described.

A coiled spring 136 has one of its end portions fixedly attached at .138to inner frame member 70 and its opposite end portion fixedly attachedat 140 to left hand actuating plate 124. A similar coil spring 142 hasone of its end portions fixedly attached at 144 to inner frame member 70and its opposite end portion fixedly attached at 146 to right handactuating plate 130. Coil spring 136 and 142 aid in maintaining doors 78and 80 in their closed sealed positions, as depicted in FIG. 5, andrigidly in their generally vertically upright open positions as depictedin FIG. 4. Coil springs 136 and 142 also aid in snapping doors 78 and 80into their closed and opened positions as the springs pass over thepivot centers (rods 72 and 64) of their respective left and right handactuating plates 124 and 130. The angle 148 between the center line ofspring *136 and the center line of left hand actuating plate 124, whendoor 80 is in its closed position, is less than the angle 150 betweenthe center line of spring 142 and the center line of right handactuating plate 130, when door 78 is in its closed position, all asdepicted in FIG. 5, thereby insuring that door 80 which carries sealingflange 84 opens and pivots downward slightly ahead of door 78 andinsures that door 78 closes and pivots upward slightly ahead of door 80carrying sealing flange 84 on its inner edge. The degree of controlexerted by springs 136 and 142 on the lateral movement of respectiveleft hand and right hand actuating plates 124, 130, is controlled by theamount or size of respective slots 128 and 134 in each of the actuatingplates adjacent their upper end portions at the point of pivotalattachment of respective attaching pins 126 and 132.

Upon opening and raising of cover assembly 34 to position 50 as depictedin FIGS. 1 and 2, push rod 94 is depressed thereby pivoting actuatinglever 98 and connected actuating rod 102 in a counter-clockwisedirection. The counter-clockwise pivoting of actuating rod 102 causesthe counter-clockwise movement of intermediate actuating lever 114 andthe rightward movement of left hand actuating lever 1118 and theleftward movement of right hand actuating lever 122 into positions asdepicted in FIG. 4. As left hand actuating lever 118 moves to the rightthe top portion of left hand actuating plate 124 moves to the rightpivoting rod 72 and attached door 80 in a clockwise direction into door80s open position. When right hand actuating rod 122 moves in a leftwarddirection the upper portion of right hand actuating plate 130 is movedto the left pivoting rod 64 and door 78 attached thereto in acounter-clockwise direction into door 78s open position. During thisopening operation of operating mechanism 86, springs 136 and 142 aid insnapping doors and 78 into their opened positions. Upon the lowering andclosing of cover assembly 34 into the position as depicted at referencenumber 48 in FIG. 2, the reverse of the above operation takes placewithin operating mechanism 86 whereby doors 78 and 80 will be pivotedinto their closed position sealing against the bottom 62 of innerrectangular member 52, all as depicted in FIG. 5. In the closingoperation springs 136 and 142 will aid in snapping respective doors 80and 78 into their closed positions and aid in maintaining them sealedagainst the lower edge 62 of rectangular housing 52.

To put the improved self-contained toilet of this invention intooperation, after the same has been installed in a railroad car, similarvehicle or other like conveyance, the same is first charged with asolution of water and chemicals to approximately the level as indicatedby reference numeral 152 in FIG. 2. Once the toilet has been so chargedwith solution the same may be used repeatedly for a period of time suchas a week or more before emptying and recharging. The chemically treatedWaste that accumulates in the bottom of tank 24 and within the solutionmay be drained and removed either by gravity flow means (not shown) orthe same may be emptied by a vacuum system, a portion of which is shownat reference numeral 154 in the drawings.

When toilet 10 is not in use, inner doors 78 and 80 are in a closed andoverlapped position sealing against the lower edge 62 of innerrectangular member 52 to retain the chemical solution and wasteaccumulated therein within the lower portion of tank 24 of toilet 10thereby preventing splashing of the same upwards through rectangularmember 52 towards and onto top wall 24 and seat 28 of the toilet. Whenthe cover assembly 34 is opened and the toilet is in use inner doors 78and 80 are in their open generally vertical position dependingdownwardly from adjacent the lower edge 62 of rec-.

tangular member 52, and in this position act as baffle plates to controlthe flow, movement and sloshing about of the chemical solution and wasteaccumulated therein within the lower portion of tank 24 of the toilet,thus preventing the splashing upwards through rectangular member 52towards the person using the toilet, especially when the vehicle is inmotion. When the toilet 10 is not in use and cover assembly 34 is in itsdown and closed position, doors 78 and 80 are closed to provide acomplete enclosure for toilet seat 28 and top wall 24 of the toiletwhereby the seat, seat area and top wall of the toilet are protectedfrom trash, debris, dirt and the like from the top and the chemicalsolution and waste from the bottom. Doors 78 and 80 aid in odor controlfor toilet 10 in that the waste and chemical solution are retainedwithin tank 24 and the same is vented to the atmosphere through vent 156in a manner that is more complete than if partial venting occurredupward through inner rectangular member 52 and opening 26 into thecompartment within the vehicle in which toilet 10 is installed.

Self-contained chemical toilet 10 includes an impulse or mechanical typecounter 151 attached to back wall 20 thereof, which is automaticallyoperated each time cover assembly 34 is raised and opened and the toiletis used. Counter 151 is operated through a contact arm 153 rigidlyattached to push rod 94 which extends generally perpendicularly andhorizontally outward therefrom, and which moves in a generally verticalpath upward and downward with push rod 94. Arm 153 contacts a counterlever arm 155, which lever 155 is connected to the counter mechanism andextends generally horizontally outwardly therefrom into the path oftravel of arm 153, upon opening and raising of cover assembly 34 therebypivoting arm 155 and causing counter 151 to advance one number (see inparticular FIG. 4). When cover assembly 34 is lowered and returned toits closed position, contact arm 153 moves upward with push rod 94 andcounter lever arm 155 is rotated by spring means to its original at-restposition, all as depicted in FIG. 5. In this manner the number of timesthat toilet is used is recorded by counter 151 such that a schedule forthe emptying, cleaning and servicing of toilet 10 can be programmedwhich is based on the actual number of times the facility is used, andthe necessary or desired strength of the chemical sol-ution charge forthe toilet can be readily and more accurately determined.

With particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a second embodiment of theimproved self-contained chemical toilet 10 of this invention is showntherein and includes toilet enclosure 12, as was shown in the previousembodiment. Housing 12 includes side walls 16 and 18, back wall 20 andtop wall 24 having the opening 26 extending therethrough, all as seen inFIGS. 6 and 7. Toilet enclosure 12 of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 6and 7 includes a cover assembly 160 having a top section 162 anddepending side sections 164 and 166, a back section 168 and a handle 170connected to depending side section 164 and extending outward therefromto aid in the opening and closing of cover assembly 160. Cover assembly160 further includes a gasket or sealing member (not shown) to sealbetween cover assembly 160 and top wall 24, of toilet housing 12, as inthe previous embodiment. A pair of blocks 172 and 174 are spacedlymounted to side wall 18 of toilet enclosure 12 closely adjacent top wall24 thereof and respectively closely adjacent the front and rear wallsthereof. A hinge pin 176 passes through openings within blocks 172 and174 and is freely pivotable therein. Cover assembly 160 is attached topivot hinge pin 176 by a pair of connecting lugs 178 and 180 extendingbetween and rigidly connected to hinge pin 176 and depending sidesection 166 of cover assembly 160. A short lever arm 182 has one of itsend portions rigidly connected to an end of hinge pin 176 and itsopposite end portion pivotally attached by means of pin 184 to one endportion of an elongated connecting arm 186. The other end portion ofconnecting arm 186 is pivotally attached to a end portion of anactuating lever 188 by pin 190, while the opposite end portion ofactuating lever 188 is fixedly and rigidly attached to actuating rod102. In this manner applicant has provided, not only an improvedself-contained toilet having a back-hinged, frontopening cover assembly,as depicted in FIGS. 1 through 5, but also a side-hinged, side-openingcover assembly as depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Upon the lifting and opening of cover assembly 160 by handle 170, fromits closed position 192 as depicted in FIG. 6 to its open position 194as depicted in FIG. 7, hinge pin 176 will pivot in a counter-clockwisedirection within blocks 172 and 174 causing lever arm 182 to pivottherewith, with its lower end portion to move to the right. The pivotingof lever arm 182 with hinge pin 176 will cause connecting arm 186 tomove to the right thereby moving the lower end portion of actuatinglever 188 to the right. With this movement of actuating lever 188,actuating rod 102 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction therebyopening doors 78 and 80, as explained hereinabove. Upon closing of coverassembly 160, the reverse of the above operation will take place wherebyactuating rod 102 will be pivoted in a clockwise direction therebyclosing inner doors 78 and 80.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specificembodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changesmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appendedclaims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. In a self-contained portable chemical toilet adapted for vehicularuse including a housing having a plurality of side walls and a bottomand top wall forming a tank therewithin for the reception of a chemicalsolution and waste material to be deposited therein through an openingin said top wall, a toilet seat pivotally mounted to said housing andsurroundingly positioned over the opening in said top wall, a coverassembly pivotally mounted to said housing and adapted and arranged tocover said seat, opening and top wall, and door means pivotally mountedwithin said housing and being positioned adjacently below said top wallof said housing, said door means being pivotal from a closed generallyhorizontal blocking position between the chemical solution and saidopening within said top wall when said cover assembly is in its closedposition to an opened generally vertical non-blocking position extendingdownwardly toward and above the chemical solution to baflie same wherebysuch solution and waste material is inhibited from splashing upwardtoward the toilet seat and top wall and onto the user of the toiletduring vehicular motion.

2. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 1wherein said door means includes a pair of door members, means forpivotally mounting said door members to said walls within said housing,one of said pair of door members having an overlapping flange portionoppositely facing an edge portion of the other of said pair of doormembers, said flange portion overlapping and sealing against said edgeportion when said door members are in their closed position therebyinhibiting chemical solution splash-up and odors from escaping throughsaid opening while said door members are in their closed positions.

3. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 1further including counter means connected to said housing, meanspositioned between said cover assembly and said counter means foractuating said counter means upon opening of said cover assembly wherebysaid counter means records the number of times said cover assembly isopened for use of the toilet.

4. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 1wherein said plurality of side walls includes a front wall and a backwall, said cover assembly being pivotally mounted to said housingclosely adjacent said back wall, said cover assembly extending acrosssaid top wall and being openable from a position closely adjacent saidfront wall of said housing.

5. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 1wherein said plurality of side walls includes a pair of opposed sidewalls, said cover assembly being pivotally mounted to said housingclosely adjacent one of said pair of opposed side walls, said coverassembly extending across said top wall and being openable from aposition closely adjacent the other of said pair of side walls of saidhousing.

6. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 1wherein said door means includes a pair of door members, and means forpivotally mounting said door members to said walls within said housing.

7. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 6wherein said means for pivotally mounting includes a pair of generallyparallel rods pivotally mounted to said walls within said housing, eachdoor member being mounted to a respective said rod for pivotal movementtherewithin.

8. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 7further including linkage means extending between and connected to saidcover assembly and one end portion of each of said pair of rods, saidlinkage means being operative to pivot said pair of rods and pair ofdoors attached thereto into their open position upon opening of saidcover assembly and to pivot said rods and attached doors into theirclosed position upon closing of said cover assembly.

9. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as de fined in claim 8further including a counter mechanism connected to said housing, saidlinkage means including means for operating said counter mechanism uponopening of said cover assembly, said counter mechanism recording thenumber of times said cover assembly is opened for use of the toilet.

10. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 1further including passageway forming means positioned between saidopening in said top wall and the chemical solution within said housing,said passageway forming means sealingly engaging said door means whensaid door means is in its closed position thereby preventing splash-upof the chemical solution onto said toilet seat and said top wall of saidhousing.

11. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim10 further including a gasket sealingly positioned about and connectedto the lower edge of said cover assembly, said gasket sealing againstsaid top Wall of said housing when said cover assembly is in its closedposition thereby inhibiting odors from escaping through said openingwhile said cover assembly is in its closed position.

12. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim10 further including vent means positioned through and attached to saidhousing, said vent means providing communication between the interiorand exterior of said housing for ventilating odors emanating from thechemical solution and waste material contained within said housing.

13. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim10 wherein said passageway forming means is attached to said top Wall ofsaid housing and depends generally downwardly therefrom into theinterior of said housing.

14. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim 1further including linkage means extending between and connected to saidcover assembly and said door means, said linkage means including meansextending through one said side wall and connected to said door means,said linkage means being operative to pivot said door means into itsopen position upon opening of said cover assembly and to pivotally closesaid door means upon closing of said cover assembly.

15. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim14 further including spring, means eX- tending between and connected tosaid housing and said 10 linkage means, said spring means biasing saiddoor means into their closed position.

16. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim14 wherein said linkage means includes a push-pull rod having one of itsend portions pivotally attached to said cover assembly for movementtherewith, an actuating lever having one of its end portions pivotallyattached to the other end portion of said push-pull rod for pivotalmovement thereof upon movement of said push-pull -rod, a generallyhorizontal actuating rod mounted to said housing for pivotal movementabout its longitudinal axis, one end portion of said actuating rod beingfixedly attached to the opposite end portion of said actuating lever forpivotal movement therewith, an intermediate actuating lever fixedlyattached at its mid-portion to the mid-portion of said actuating rod andbeing pivotal therewith, a pair of arms respectively pivotally attachedat one of their end portions to opposite end portions of saidintermediate actuating lever for movement with said opposite endportions upon pivotal movement of said intermediate actuating lever, anda pair of elements having one of their end portions respectivelypivotally attached to the opposite endportions of said pair of arms, theopposite end portions of said pair of elements being respectivelyfixedly attached to said door means for pivoting of said door means uponmovement of said pair of arms.

17. In the self-contained portable chemical toilet as defined in claim16 further including spring means extending between and connected tosaid housing and respective said pair of elements of said linkage means,said spring means biasing said elements whereby said door means arebiased into their closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 756,599 4/ 1904 Dobbs 41441,189,714 7/1916 Marcuse 4l36 1,210,186 12/1916 Marcuse 4144 2,011,5118/1935 Bennett et al 48 2,946,065 7/1960 Smith 4-1 15 3,172,131 3/1965Herkenhine et al. 4115 3,366,976 2/19'68 Swanson 4144 HENRY K. ARTIS,Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

